All the eggs in one stadium basket

Nicholas Hayes

There have been memorable defining moments in state and federal elections that see the mood and sentiment of the public swing a particular way. In the federal election of 2001 the ship Tampa ended up putting a favoured and promising ALP Beazley-led win to rest!

Labor puts all the election eggs in one stadium basket. Photo: Rebecca Hallas

Have we yet seen the defining moment for this state election here in Western Australia?

While the Liberals are running an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" campaign, the ALP has centred their election campaign around the most basic of issues: the location of a football stadium and the development of a railway line that connects the north-east.

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In a bold and calculated move, the McGowan-led ALP has pretty much put all its eggs in this basket with three weeks to go - a basket that is in danger of becoming insignificant or even worse, a basket case.

This move, along with other social policies, is aimed at the typical West Australian who loves his or her footy, is tired of not having the basic infrastructure that other states enjoy and who questions a leadership has done little to improve the lives of the West Australian not working in the mining industry in the last four years.

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Is this the creative political genius required to get the people thinking about Labor as a contender for our government for the next four years? Are these issues fundamental to WA voters, or detrimental?

The ALP has us considering whether the home of WA football is Subiaco or Burswood. The truth is that West Australians deserve a proper stadium, but we are tired of hearing about where it could or might be. We really don't care, we just want the government to get on with it!

The question now that both parties need to impress on the people is who is going to make real positive change happen. WA has been at the forefront of economic stability for the country because of its resources and workforce. The state is doing well from the mining boom and yet has so little to show for it. Its people are not convinced that the current state government has done enough, and it has an opposition that is dogged by an underperforming federal government.

This ALP move of getting back to basics – to community infrastructure and state spirit - is what it might all come down to. The ALP has managed to get Troy Buswell out from his bunker making comments that have infuriated many, particularly when he is attacking the likes of transport experts Professor Peter Newman. The Premier has been forced onto the back foot, to defend his lack of infrastructure and question the vision of the opposition. Might it come down to the delivery of the next Synergy bill to turn votes towards the ALP in the hope they might reduce the cost of living?

It might not have been the most technical or advanced political move but it works. With three weeks to go it really is anyone's game! Has the ALP showed all their cards too early? Has the Liberal Party got the counter punch to send this election their way?